PEARL CITY — Five years ago, Stockton coach Colleen Fox challenged her volleyball players about taking their play to a higher level.

Fox had just taken over the program, which at that time had not experienced much postseason success.

That changed last year when the Blackhawks reached the sectional title game for the first time in program history. Although, the team graduated five seniors from last year, Stockton found itself back in another sectional final Thursday.

It wouldn’t be the result they wanted. For a second straight year, Stockton fell to Keith 25-13, 25-14 at the Class 1A Pearl City Sectional.

Fox said for her team to be out on the floor competing and not sitting in the stands watching was the biggest accomplishment.

“I am very proud of all of them rising to the challenge of wanting to be a competitor,” Fox said. “I think that will continue. It was a great experience for the younger kids to be able to see and be a part of. We are going to keep working and playing the best volleyball we can.”

Stockton finished its season at 28-6-1 overall, while Keith, the defending Class 1A state champ, meets either Elgin Harvest Christian Academy or Chicago St. Francis de Sales for the supersectional title Saturday.

The Blackhawks’ slow start against Keith doomed them early in Game 1. The Cougars (36-3) led 10-2 at one point and then used a 7-0 run to get up 17-2 en route to the win.

“They are good,” Stockton middle hitter Madalyn Dower said. “They have the hitters. They are tall. They can jump. They are just all around good. We didn’t come out like we should have and I know I didn’t.”

It was a tough night for the Blackhawks, who last year took Keith to three games in the sectional final, 18-25, 25-19, 25-18.

“We were a little more prepared this time,” Keith coach Lynn Cesario said. “They are a scrappy team. We talked more. Our communication was good. We stuck to the middles. We knew they were going to run their middles and we stayed on top on that and it worked for us.”

In Game 2, the Cougars did more of the same leading by as many as 10 points a few times.

“We didn’t come out ready,” Stockton middle hitter Kara Wright said. “They really got us on serves and we knew we should have come out stronger, but just couldn’t pull it off.”

Page 2 of 2 - Stockton graduates six seniors from this year’s team.

Wright finished with four kills, three digs and five blocks. Dower added two kills and three service aces, while Kristen Krippendorf had six digs for Stockton.

Keith’s Adeja Lambert had 11 kills and seven service aces. Iman McGary had six kills, while Marisa Morgan had 20 assists and Alex Nunez had 18 digs.